As years pass by, the climate crisis worsens a bit more. Crushing heat and the daunting fear of rising sea levels are looming over us. People are getting more concerned day by day. Hopefully, this has been urging people to be more active in the fight against climate change. Millions of entities have emerged worldwide in this battle, trying desperately to find solutions. Among many that were born with the mission of securing a good Earth, the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA) is a widely known platform for their relentless activities to preserve the environment.
On Monday, with much optimism, BELA organized the “National Event on Coastal Forest Co-management for Ecosystem Restoration and SDSS Tool” at the Sonargaon Hotel in the capital. It was a very significant move led by BELA, as it brought together a bunch of experts who believe in the same mission – getting rid of the horrible climate crisis.
The workshop, participated in by government officials, lawyers, environmentalists, and coastal residents, helped highlight the challenges in the pathways and find solutions.
In his remarks as the chief guest, Navid Shafiullah, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, emphasized that Bangladesh remains among the most vulnerable countries to climate-related risks. He noted that the country is grappling with multiple climate-induced challenges and stressed that safeguarding coastal forests is crucial in addressing these threats. According to him, these forests not only act as a natural barrier against disasters but also play a vital role in sustaining the livelihoods of coastal communities. He expressed concern over the ongoing degradation of these critical ecosystems.( Prothom Alo).
Taslima Islam, Chief Executive of BELA, pointed out that although Article 18(A) of the Constitution calls for the protection of biodiversity and forests, environmental impacts are rarely evaluated during project planning. She cited the construction of the Cox’s Bazar railway as an example, where over 720,000 trees were felled and 26 hills leveled. She also highlighted that the Forest Act of 1927 does not offer a precise definition of forests, nor does it clearly outline the roles and responsibilities of the Forest Department.
Mihir Kumar Do, Forest Conservator of the Barisal Coastal Region, expressed that land management issues as a major obstacle to forest conservation. He explained that until a coastal forest is officially designated as a reserved area, it remains under the jurisdiction of the respective Deputy Commissioner, restraining the Forest Department’s ability to act. He added that when encroachments occur, blame is often directed at the Forest Department, despite their limited authority.
He further noted that co-management committees—formed to involve local communities in forest stewardship—have had a positive impact. He mentioned that such collaborative efforts have significantly curbed illegal logging in the Sundarbans.
SM Saifi Iqbal, a climate policy expert from Oxfam Bangladesh, expressed concern over the annual loss of about 1% of mangrove forest cover, largely due to human activities such as shrimp farming and deforestation. He believed that this trend could be reversed through well-coordinated partnerships and community-based management.
Jacob de Leon, Second Secretary (Development) at the Australian High Commission in Bangladesh, remarked that while the country has an adequate legal framework for environmental protection, enforcement remains weak. He emphasized the need to address staffing shortages, financial constraints, and institutional limitations to ensure more effective implementation.
Throughout the workshop, participants repeatedly underscored the importance of strong political will in forest and environmental conservation. They urged political parties to make clear, actionable commitments on these issues during election campaigns.
